What to do in and around Bruges

The city of Bruges is located in the Flemish part of Belgium, where the inhabitants speak Belgian Dutch. This medieval city will give you the impression of stepping back in time with its canals, its typical market town and its narrow streets… The city nicknamed the Venice of the North has the means to pleasantly surprise you whether you are staying with your family, friends or lovers!

To help you prepare for your trip, here’s a short guide to the must-see sights in Bruges.

Discover Bruges: its monuments, history and secrets.

Bruges is a historic city known for its canals, churches and ancient buildings, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Bruges is a popular destination for tourists, who also come to sample its culinary specialities.

Bruges’ main tourist attractions include

• Market Square with its belfry,

• Saint-Sauveur Cathedral,

• Gruuthuse Castle,

• Groeninge Museum.

The city is also famous for its canals, which criss-cross the city centre and offer a beautiful view of the old buildings. It’s impossible to visit Bruges and not enjoy a stroll along the canals – the Venice of the North has so much to offer!

To find out more about the history of Bruges, visit the Historical Museum, housed in a magnificent building where films, special effects, music and virtual reality plunge you straight into the heart of the city’s history in sumptuous settings. The museum has a permanent exhibition on the history of the city, as well as a collection of religious art.

Bruges is also known for its culinary specialities, such as shrimp croquettes, Ghent waterzooi, Flemish carbonnade, chocolate and beer.

The best things to do in Bruges.

Bruges is a beautiful city known for its medieval architecture and canals, but there are also plenty of gardens and parks perfect for relaxing after a long day’s sightseeing. Here are some of the best things to do in Bruges:

1 – Bruges museums

• Groeninge Museum: featuring a collection of Flemish art from the 14th to the 20th century.

• Bruges Chocolate Museum: An excellent choice if you have children, as they can learn all about chocolate, from how it is made to how it is tasted.

2 – A trip along the canals of Bruges

One of the best ways to see Bruges is to take a cruise on the city’s canals.

You can admire the magnificent buildings along the canals, while enjoying interesting commentaries on the history of Bruges. Cruises last from an hour to a whole day.

3 – Beer

Belgium is famous for its beer, and Bruges has a number of breweries where you can sample some of the best Belgian beers.

Brasserie De Halve Maan is a family-run brewery that produces a lager called Brugse Zot, while Brouwerij Lindemans brewery produces a fruity beer called Kriek.

There are also numerous beer bars in Bruges where you can sample beers from breweries all over the world.

4 – Shopping in Bruges

There are many designer shops, jewellery and clothing boutiques in Bruges, as well as many shops where you can find typical Bruges souvenirs such as chocolates, beers, trinkets, etc.

Where to eat and drink in Bruges

Bruges has plenty of restaurants and bars where you can eat and drink. Most are located in the city centre, close to the main tourist attractions.

The restaurants offer a wide range of cuisine, from traditional Belgian to international. There’s something to suit every taste and budget. For beer lovers, Bruges is also an ideal city. The city boasts numerous breweries and beer bars where you can sample the best Belgian beers. Most of the bars also offer simple but tasty food, perfect to accompany the beers.

If you’re looking for a good restaurant for lunch or dinner, here are a few suggestions:

• Restaurant Den Dyver, right in the centre of town, serving traditional Belgian cuisine in a cosy atmosphere.

• Restaurant La Cuisine, just a few minutes’ walk from the city centre, serving refined cuisine in elegant surroundings.

• L’Estaminet restaurant, in the Dijver district, serving traditional Belgian cuisine in a friendly atmosphere.

• Bierbrasserie Cambrinus, located in the city centre, this tavern is renowned for its beers (400) and its simple but tasty cuisine.

• Biercafé De Gouden Boom, located in the Dijver district, is a beer bar renowned for its wide selection of beers and traditional Belgian cuisine.

Where to stay in Bruges?

Visitors to Bruges are spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation. Most Bruges hotels are located in the city centre, close to all the main attractions.

For those looking for more affordable accommodation, there are plenty of youth hostels and other budget accommodation in the city. There aren’t many campsites in the area, but there are a few outside Bruges.

Some of the most popular hotels in Bruges include:

• The Heritage Hotel,

• Hotel Dukes’ Palace,

• Hotel Prinsenhof.

These hotels all offer comfortable rooms and top-of-the-range facilities, but can be quite expensive.

Youth hostels often offer dormitory beds at very affordable prices, but the rooms can be a little noisy and the facilities may not be as luxurious as those in hotels.

There are also a number of inexpensive guesthouses and pensions in Bruges city centre.

Camping Ter Heide is about 10 minutes’ drive from Bruges city centre and offers spacious pitches for tents and caravans. Camping Vosseslag is a little further away, about 20 minutes by car from Bruges, but is surrounded by woodland and offers beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

Discovering the Bruges area: villages and tourist sites not to be missed.

For those wishing to explore the area around Bruges, there are plenty of options. The city of Brussels is just an hour away by train, and offers a host of attractions, including the Grand-Place, the Comic Strip Museum and the Brussels Zoo.

Hiking enthusiasts can take advantage of the many trails in the Forêt de Soignes, just a few kilometres from Bruges.

There are many villages and tourist sites not to be missed. Damme and Sluis are two pretty little towns to visit, easily accessible by bus or train from Bruges.